Smarter (and Simpler) Radar in Harpoon4 - Clash of Arms

2
chance of the operator seeing the contact as soon as possible.
So they take into account the expected contact type and time
the PRF to that optimal detection range.
A Canadian LN-66HP is a surface ship surface search
radar. It can’t see over the horizon no matter how strong the
signal is, so longer detection range doesn’t do it any good.
The high PRF and high signal strength means that when
medium and larger-sized contacts come over the horizon,
they will be picked up quickly.
If you are checking the ranges in Annex J, or researching
a radar not covered by the rules, look for “instrumented
range” as well as a range against a target of a stated size.
Third, we have to change the envelopes for some of the
radar types. Here is a complete list of all types and what they
detect:
(All ranges are limited by the radar horizon. For
detection, VLow is considered part of the Low altitude band)
Surface radar types:
SS - Surface Search
Surface - at full range
Air - VLow altitude only at half listed Surf range
AS - Air Search
Surface - at 10% of listed Air range
VLow at 10% of listed air range
Air - Low and higher altitudes at listed range
HF - Height Finder
Surface - None
Air - All altitudes at listed range
3D - Three-Dimensional Air Search
Surface - at 10% of listed Air range
Air - All altitudes at listed range
Airborne radar types:
SS - Surface Search
Surface - at full range
AS - Air Search
Air - Full range co-altitude, two higher, one lower
Half range elsewhere
AI- Specialized airborne AS radar
Air - Full range co-altitude, one higher, one lower
Half range elsewhere
Also functions as FC radar.
LD/SD - Look Down/Shoot Down (more capable AI)
Air - Full range co-altitude, two higher, two lower
Half range elsewhere
Also functions as FC radar.
RO - Range Only
No search capability, but must be used for radarguided
weapons control
TF - Terrain Following
No search capability, but must be on for NOE
flight at night or in bad weather.
Changes include a revised range for detection of air
contacts by SS radars, and residual SS capability has been
removed for airborne AS radars. If a radar has SS capability,
it will be listed separately in Annex L.
SS capability has also been removed for AI radars. If it
has a SS mode, it will be listed separately in Annex L
Altitudes were corrected for Airborne AS radar.
Fourth, the rules change for radar detection chances.
Don’t bother rolling detection anymore, It’s not worth the
trouble. After doing the math, the chance per pulse of
detection quickly drives radar detection probabilities into the
high nineties. This matches US Navy operational practice. If
you’re in range, assume you’re detected, because you almost
certainly are.
Finally, as might be expected, a thorough scrub of the
radar annexes (J1, J2, and L) has revealed a lot of new data,
especially for the Russians. More Soviet/Russian designations
are available, allowing us to correlate them with their NATO
nicknames. And of course more performance data is available
as well.
We’ve also found a lot of conflicting data. That’s taken a
while to sort out, and we ended up having to make a choice.
There are several excellent Russian sources available now, and
where we‘ve had to choose, we‘ve gone with them.
High Tide, which will be out this summer, will have
revised Annexes J1, J2, and L that use the new standard
contact sizes and the new limit on maximum radar range.
Bibliography
Radar Evaluation Handbook, Barton, Dr. David K.,
Artech House, 1991
Jane’s Weapons Systems series
Jane’s Radar and Electronic Warfare series
Annex J1 - Surface radars
Country System Function Range
Canada CMR-4 AS 50/50/37/16/5
Canada LN-66/CMR-85 SS 27/21/12/7/4
Canada LN-66/SP SS 46/28/16/9/5
Canada Sperry Mk2 SS 51/28/16/9/5
Canada Sperry Mk127E SS 40/28/16/9/5
Canada Sperry Mk340 SS 48/32/18/10/6
Canada SPS-501 AS 145/100/74/32/10
Canada SPS-502 SS 36/28/16/9/5
Canada SPS-503 AS 86/86/77/33/10
SS 48/32/18/10/6
Canada SPS-505 (Sweden AS 72/45/34/14/4
Giraffe 150HC) SS 40/32/18/10/6
Den. CWS-1 AS 100/80/60/25/8
Denm. CWS-2 AS 100/80/60/25/8
SS 47/26/15/8/5
Denm. CWS-3 AS 85/53/40/17/5
Denm. NWS-1 SS 25/21/12/7/4
Denm. NWS-2 SS 25/25/14/8/4
Denm. NWS-3 SS 36/28/16/9/5
Denm. NWS-4 SS 27/21/12/7/4
Denm. NWS-5 SS 36/25/14/8/4
Denm. NWS-6 SS 40/28/16/9/5
Denm. NWS-10 SS 40/32/18/10/6